Hay pelletizing machine



Feb. 2, 1965 T. l.. BLISS 3,168,057

HAY PELLETIZING MACHINE Filed April 14. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ilh I J Ll y INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY W: ,2/ SI WMUIIII IIHI IKW.- HMI II n A-; 1.

I I .IIIIIIIII II IkII ...wf .W HM III .II I I? Feb. 2, 1965 T. Buss 3,168,057

HAY PELLETIZING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 14. 1961 IN VEN TOR. 72E/@0N L 5L Lis.

1&7 gygl Kif/M@ A TTORNEX Feb. 2, 1965 T. L. BLISS HAY PELLETIZING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 14, 1961 INVENTOR. ZfpoA/LL/SS.

ATTORNEY 52 J7 40 J6 J4 United States Patent O 3,168,057 HAY PELLETEZHNG MACHINE Theron lL.. Bliss, 13.9. Box 345A, Rte. 1, Buckeye, Ariz. Filed Apr. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 163,086 Claims. (Cl. 11W- 14) My invention relates to means for pelletizing hay.

For a relatively large number of years there have been attempts, sometimes partially successful, to pelletize bulk animal feeds of the type commonly referred to as hay, but including also various alfalfa, fodders and haylike products capable of being compacted and formed into relatively bite-size pellets for easy storage, handling and animal consumption. In general the methods of and means heretofore employed for pelletizing such hay products have not been fully satisfactory, principally because the pelletizing process has been relatively too expensive; has been ineffective, or has not been uniformly successful on all types of bulk feed. Still another objection and diiiiculty with pelletizing methods and equipment as heretofore employed have been that the moisture content or degree of freshness of the bulk feed being treated was critical. Still other problems result from the fact that previously attempted methods and equipment have been limited in output. Finally, another problem is that previously suggested methods and equipment have either been usable at a central location or in the field, but they have never been of such a character that they are adapted for use in either location.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of an improved means for producing pellets or bulk animal food of the character generally identified by the term hayf Another object is the provision of means for pelletizing hay which avoids most or all of the objectionable features of methods and equipment of the prior art.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a hay pelletizing machine which will produce a larger output at a lower unit cost than equipment known in the prior art.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved means for pelletizing hay which is versatile in its output, in the type of material which it will handle, and in the location in which it may be operated.

Other specific objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings; wherein FIG. l is a fragmentary plan view showing one embodiment of a hay pelletizing machine produced in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the gure shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. l in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. l looking in the direction of the arrows, part of FIG. 4 including an elevation taken in front of the section line in order to illustrate structure;

FIG. 5 is a transverse fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary angular sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shell which receives the hay from a hopper and within which it is compacted in the process of its being pelletized;

FIG. 8 is a partially exploded view showing the compacting rotor and rotor vane which function to accomice' plish the compacting action resulting in the pelletizing of the hay, and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing a modication of the cutter bar assembly.

In accordance with the general features of the invention, the hay or other similar bulk cattle food is first coniminuted by a chopping action to suitable condition for pelletizing, delivered to a confined space along which it is continuously moved, compacted first in one plane, then in a plane at right angles to the rst plane, and finally in a plane at right angles to the first two mentioned planes to produce a compacted body of generally uniform crosssection. The compacted body so substantially continuously formed is excised in a series of cutting actions to produce pellets-form-retaining pellets of substantially uniform density and shape. Unlike methods of the prior art, there is no loose hay portion, as in the bottom of a cylinder, which will act to prevent uniform pelletizing action.

The method is preferably practised by means of the equipment in which the enclosed space is generally arcuate and convolute, and in which the hay is moved along the said convolute space and gradually compacted by means of a rotor and rotor blade and thence delivered to a series of dies where three-directional compaction occurs prior to each operation of cutting off the pre-conformed pellet.

Looking now to FIGS. l through 8 of the drawings, reference will be made first to the equipment with which the method is practised, it being obvious to those skilled in the art that the equipment may take various forms within the scope of the present invention. In the embodiment shown, a frame indicated generally by the reference character 10 includes a base 11, a plurality of uprights 12 and a pair of longitudinally extending channels 13 which form the main support for the functioning portion of the machine. The frame is suitably supported as on the lioor or on wheels (not shown), depending upon the size of the machine and whether or not it is intended for use at a central location or for use in a iield. Regardless of its location it may be part of a self-propelled unit or may comprise a trailer, and may be operated from any suitable source of power. My invention is not concerned with the location or manner of propulsion of the machine, except insofar as it may be understood that the particular manner of supporting or transporting the machine is not in any way limited because of its construction and the manner of its use. It should be noted also that all usually available farm equipment commonly employed in or around feed handling establishments may be employed.

The heart of the pelletizing portion of the machine is a shell indicated generally by the reference character 14, and a rotor assembly indicated generally by the reference character 16, the latter rotating Within the former in a manner to be explained to accomplish the initial movement and the final pelletizing action on the comminuted hay.

The shell 14 includes a generally tubular side wall 17 and integral heads 18, each having an exterior boss 19 and an end opening 21 extending in each case entirely through the boss and heads 18. The shell also has a side opening 22 extending substantially its full length, and a pair of generally top openings 23 separated by a rib 24 which is integral with and forms a part of the tubular side wall 17.

Each head 18 has an end plate 26 secured thereto as by spot welding, and each of the end plates 2e has a pair of integral arcuate projections 27 which are secured t@ the contiguous channel members 13 of the frame 10 by means of bolts 28. The hopper 29 is secured over the openings 23 by means of bolts 31 so as to continuously ing relatively thick side walls leaving a restricted longitudinal opening 33. PlugsA -34 ofhard'ened metal are suitably secured within the ends of the opening 33 and flush with the ends of the rotor, and the plugs 34 are apertured to receive stub shafts 36 suitably held in position to forma fulcrum on'which the. rotor may be rotated. Suitably the openings finkthe plugs 34 arel splined to match an end spline on the stubshafts 36 sothat when they are in position a rm engagement between the stub shaft and rotor is'accomplished. The rotor also has a transverse slot running entirely through tit, but spaced frorn'its ends within which slot a solid roto-r vane 37 is slidably supported. The rotor has a plurality of vannular yexterior slots 38, and the rotorvane has at opposite edges slots 39, the slots 38 and 39 being aligned tofunctionin' a manner as will be'described hereinbelow` v Y The rotor is mounted within the shell member 1,4 and the manner of mounting is first toinsert the rotor assembly 16 without-its stub shaftswithin the shell-meml Y ber 14,.and this may be accomplished atterthe latter-is l Y mounted on the fram-e 10. Holding the rotor assembly,l

in alignment, the. stub shafts are then inserted through the annular bosses 19 and secured as by driving "action to l the rotor assembly. It will be notedA by reference particularly toy FIGS. 3,'4 andk 5 that the heads 18 ofthe shell member .14 are shouldered to provide space lfor the rotor 32 but. such shoulder provides a clearance -forthe rotor vane 37 asshown in FIG. 5. Nearisuch shoulder Y the shell 14 has a thickened segmenten-its inner periphery forminga generallytapered or convolute portion 41- against whichthe extreme outeredge of the rotorvane n engages.

There is also an intermediate eonvolute segment insert 42 inV alignment with the nib 24 against whichY the rotor vanealso engages... Between the members 4-1 and 42 at the lowerporti'on of the shell member below 1 the openings 23, such shell r14 is provided with a pair of pillow blocks 40. `Itfwill bel observed ythat while the` vane'37 has a transversedlimension generally equivalent to the diameter. of shell 14, Vsuch shell isof the order ofl f about 50% greater in Iinternal diameter than the Ydiameter of rotor 16 which vcarries the Vvane 37. The functioning of the surfacescom'prisingthe pillow blocks V40y and the members 41 and 42 on which therotor vane rides will be explained in connection with the descriptions of the machinesfunction..

Secured to the shell member 14 over the side opening 22 is a die blockindicated generally by the reference character 43. The die blockcomprises a relatively/.heavy exterior .plate .44 with a bottom portion 46 resting in a periphery formed of three arcuate plates 57 concentric with the tubular member 54, three generally radial plates 58 secured to both the tubular member 54 and the arcuate plates 57, and tangential plates 59 intercommun'icating respectively with the contiguous arcuate plates 57 and radial plates 58. `VAll of the plates 57, 58 and 59. extend the full width of the member 53 and are also secured to the end plates 56. The result is successive .exteriors forming pressure plates coincident with the arcuate plates 57 forming compaction surfaces against whichthe pellets maybe compressed, interspersed with-discharge l spaces for successive pellets, and shoulders having a cutting action for excising Vthe pellets'as theyvproject from the dies.

The cutter bar assembly 53 is mounted on ashaft 61 which has its ends journalled in pillow blocks 62 carried on plates 63 projecting upwardly from. the channels 13, and therebyformingV a part of the frame. Y

The'stub shafts 36l are journalled-in,I external pillow- 'blocks 64 carried by the frame 10, and a sprocket 66 is also carried by one of the stub shafts 36 and is rotated by a chain- 67 also engagingra driving sprocket 68 on dnive shaft 69 projecting trompa suitable-geary box`71 carried on the base 11. The gear box 71v is'of any suitable type andr receives its power -from ra'drive .shaft72 leadingto a source of power eitherY permanently mounted or portable, Vdepending'upon the particular-installationY with which the kmechanism is used. The source of power, of course, may be electrical, steam, gas engine,rv diesel or the like,or it `may have its own source of power or Y be driven from a power take-off as desired The shaft 61 drivingtheV cutter-bar assembly- 53` alsoy carries a sprocket 73 driven by a chain 74 from a sprocket- 76 mountedu on aydrive shaft 77'.

The pelletizer of the present invention hpreferablyrem- VvploysI a suitable conveyor system Yforloadingor otherwise disposing of any pellets, although any suitable methl od or equipment lforl receiving and handling the pelletsV 1.

i, aftertheyV are formed may be-used. YIn the drawings I show an idler drum 78 mounted Von a suitable journalled shaft' 79. and a driving-drum 81 carried on .ashaft 82 Y, journalled in pillow blocks 83. The shaft 82 also carries Y a sprocket 84 driven .by a chain Si) from a-driving sprocket. 35 mounted on a driving shaft 86. A belt 87 carried 45 are formed, and carries them upwardly for delivery asVH they are required. f It shouldv be understood as noted A on the drums 73 andflfreceives the pellets `rSlyas they previously that the conveyor is illustrative and may be of any suitable type to accomplish thedesired result.

Suitably also it may lead to aicross conveyor` (not shown) which is part of .a loading mechanism not `forming part of the presentinvention.

slot carried by a bracket4 47,]and. an. upper portion raised plurality of tapered dies`51of rectangular cross-section which extend entirely throughthe plate'44 and are Vopen .i

at both their linterior andexterior ends, the latter comprising the smaller end of the taper. VAs seen particularlyin FIG.` 6 also, the .dieblockglts snugly withinthe shell member 14 so that when it is mounted in posif kbeingtunderstood.that lany usual andfunctional type of.

drive mechanism accomplishing. the .proper relative speeds.

tion in the manner shown in FIGS:3 and 4` a iirinen-.jV

gagement'takes place and thej only opening through which the compacted hay may pass'is. that formed by the dies 51'.

As noted particularly in FIGS; 3 and 4, each contiguous die forms aknife edge 52 which parts and cuts the compacted hay as it is deliveredalongits path to thedies Those skilled in the art will understand that the speed of the driveshaft v72 and the particular .arrangement'of gears within the gearbox 71 may be selected inaccordance with standard. engineeringspractice, and that also `-the relative speeds of the several driving parts may be -in part'controlled through the controlyof sizes 'of=.the.

various sprockets employed. -The ch-ain. and sprocket drive also is illustrative of a suitable form of..drive, it

of the .parts between .thepowersource and the driveny part may be used...

While in general the operation of the machine. of; the

presentdnvention vwill be .clear from. the previous de.

scription, there are several features-concerned with its 51. yThe knives 52 ride in theslots 38.l and as the -rotor.

vane passes the knives the knives enter the slots .39 and permit the rotor to lInovefo'rwardly in a'clockwis'e direction, as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 3rY and 4.`

Immediately in front ofthe die block-I3 lis a cutter barv livered continuously to theY hopper `29. asthe pelletizer continues; its operation.Y I have Vpointed out also 'that assembly indicated generally by the reference viclziara'eter i vskilled in the arty mayV have abetter understanding. of. the manner in which the invention is practised. As al-i operation which 'may be pointed out in order thatl those readypointed outfthe hay' is 'passedthrough a'suitable chopper.,V .of whichmany are known .in.the1art, and dewhile-the moisture Vcontent and degree of. freshness (how recently cut and in what condition of growth) of the hay or other haylike material may vary, l wish to point out also that many of these matters have been given considerable study and are generally well known in the art. l wish to point out, however, that there is considerably Wider latitude in the best pelletizing conditions when using the method and equipment of the present invention as contrasted with methods and equipment in which, for example, pelletizing is accomplished by direct action of a piston or ram within a cylinder.

Assuming a full hopper, the chopped hay continues to move downwardly into the larcuate and ellipsoidal space between the interior of the shell member i4 and the exterior of the rotor le, as noted particularly in FlGS. 3 and 4. Looking rst at FIG. 3 it will be noted that the bottom edge of the rotor vane is forcing conpacted material between the narrowing space between the rotor and shell while at the same time the upper part of the vane moving in the direction shown by the arrow is starting to pick up the hay at the right or bigger volume portion ot the space and compact it in turn. Looking also to the dies 5l it will be noted that while they are of rectangular cross-section they become narrower in two directions as they extend outwardly, thus now compacting the hay in a direction at right angles to the direction in which it had been compacted originally. lt should be noted also that the arcuate plate 57 is in a position to close the outer end of the dies, so that by forcing the material against this arcuate plate the hay is also compacted longitudinally of the dies or at right angles to the two planes in which it had previously been compacted.

Looking now to FlG. 4 where the rotor vane has advanced to a further position, the cutter bar assembly has also advanced to a further position and the pellet has been ejected to the point where it is about to be cut oit by the generally radial plate 58. To understand the action it must be remembered that the cutter bar assembly moves and rotates at a higher rate of speed than the rotor assembly, the exact speed depending upon the number or" cutting edges and the capacity of the compacter. lt should be noted that as the hay is moved forward into the dies 5l it is parted and separated with a cutting action by the knives 52, and the rotor vane will clear the knives because of the slots 39. The pellets are elected at a relatively rapid rate, it being obvious that the capacity of the machine may be controlled by controlling its width and the number of dies 5l, as well as by the speed at which it is rotated. ln general, however, it is not advisable to vary the speed of operation too greatly because, generally speaking, with a given set of dimensions there is a relatively narrow range of speed which yields the best operating conditions and conservation of power.

Generally speaking, it is preferable that the hay fed to the machine be slightly wilted, but it is not necessary that any heat or any drying be employed. Suitably the pellets are about two inches by one inch by about one-and-a-half inches, although considerable variation from these specific dimensions may be made if desired. There is normally enough heat developed in the compression to prevent spoilage, and the pellets have a composition generally similar to plug tobacco because they are compressed moist or semi-moist and they need no binder. The nutritional value of the hay pelletized by means of the present invention in general is greater than in other pelletizing methods and machines in which special treatment such as by drying and the use of binders is required.

Those skilled in the art will understand from the above specific description that the machine of the present invention may be modified in many ways while still obtaining substantially the same properties in the finished pellets. In accordance with one modification of the invention the arcuate plates 57 may be omitted so that 6 compaction against them will not occur. In such a case, pressure against the hay and resulting compaction thereof will occur primarily in the two right angular planes defined by the generally flat sides of the die 51. I have found that the only particular objection is that the ends of the pellets are not quite so compact and self-sustaining as they are when the longitudinal compaction is obtained. ln this connection it should also at once be Iapparent that the relative speed at which the cutter bar assembly is rotated, as well as the number of cutting edges, determines `the length of the pellets. lf desired for any reason the machine may be constructed to merely deliver a compacted rope of hay or the like, and means other than the cutter bar assembly utilized to break it up into uniform size or random size individual pellets.

FEiG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing the cutter bar assembly in modified form as indicated by the reference character 153. This construction corresponds generally with the cutter bar 53 as shown at the left hand side of FGS. 3 and 4. But instead of having arcuate plates against which the pellets project, these plates are omitted and the end plates 156 are of smaller diameter, being only slightly larger than the tubular member 154. The shaft lol is driven as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. l-S, and, of course, end plates 156 may be attached directly to the shaft in any suitable manner as by welding. The principal difference, other than the elimination of arcuate plates 57, is the provision of a plurality of radial plates llSS secured as by welding directly to the tubular member 154. rl`here is no equivalent of the tangential plates 59 which extend between the radial plates 5S and the arcuate plates 57 so that the radial plates E58 are secured directly and irmly as by means of a line of weld to tubular member 154. With this construction the hay receives only such compaction as occurs by reason of its passing through the generally crescent shaped `area shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The machine, of course, may only have a single die with only a relatively narrow rotor, or the number of dies may be controlled to suit a desired capacity. The particular arrangement of separating knives between the dies is very effective, but other related separating means to split the hay into a number of streams corresponding to the dies may be utilized.

lt should be noted that the opening in the shell member through which the hay is delivered to the generally crescent shaped space is positioned so that little or no hay will be delivered to the left side of the upper facing edge of the vane until this member is approximately in the position shown in FIG. 4, so that very little if any of the hay will at any time drop into the relatively narrow space where the arrow is located in FIG. 3. The hay ahead of the vane 37 at top of the crescent-shaped space and below the hopper is carried in a clockwise direction by the vane 37 which at this time has its bearing against the members 4l and 42 and is thus positioned at its bottom edge as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to continue to compact the hay forwardly of the bottom edge of the vane as the bag is delivered to the tapered dies 5l. As the top edge of the vane then passes the openings 23 (FIG. 7), the vane engages the pillow blocks 40, continues to hold the vane in operative position, and seals the hay for linal compaction below the openings 23. At this time additional hay is delivered from the hopper and provides feed for compaction by the bottom edge of the vane 37 (looking at FIGS. 3 and 4) which is now rising to an upper position as it passes the dies 5l. Thus by means of the single rotor vane I am able to avoid the necessity of spring biased vane members, since at all locations around the periphery the vane has its two opposite side edges positioned by riding around on suitably spaced interior surfaces. In compacting the hay, therefore, the vane always moves along a path so as to carry the hay along the desired closed path of the crescent defining a continuously narrowing space. For

3,1es,o57

this reasonhthe crescent,shapedspaceiformed,byfthe Y shell member and rotor member respectivelyv is enabled to receive sucha volume` of hay that when it is finallycompactedl yinto the dies it `will havegthe proper amount of which the loose hay isA first fed with respect to they dies,

the number of vane surfaces performing the compacting function might be lchanged to, one, three, four or any numberdesired within thelimits o f a structural design.

As pointed out, however I prefer Vto vemploy the single vane ,extendingentirelythrough the rotor, becauseby this means I avoid the use of springsvor other biasing mechanismand produce a machine which is substantially/ free of failures, except4 insofar as normalwear `and tear are concerned.

I have shown and'described Vthe inventionv in considerable detail so that thoseskilledin, the art may understand the manner of practising the same, but the scope of the invention is limited only by ,the claims. l

I claimt.

1. In ahay pelletizing machine, a generally tubularr shell member, a rotor assembly rotatablysupported within said shell member with its axis offset from but kparallel to theshell member axis, a rotor vane slidably supported within a radially disposed slot extending entirely through said rotor, said vane dimensioned to ride along an inside `surface .of the shell member, the said Arotor and shell membertogether defining la tapered crescent shaped space, at leastone die member `secured in an aperture inA the shell at a minimum cross-sectional area locationwith respectto said crescent shaped space, said aperture extending through the shell and being positioned at an apical 1 spectf to said crescent shaped space, said aperture extending through the shell and being positioned at an apical.

portion of saidy crescentl shaped space, Vsaid die member includingV atleast one tapered-.diefink Whichithe smallercrossfsectionalportion faces outwardly, meansfor introducing hayY or the like forl compaction, and means for cutting the compacted hay aty the smaller cross sectional portion 'ofl said die to produce uniformly `compacted pellets. of substantially uniform size and shape.

7. ln a hay pelletizing machine, a Vgenerally tubular shell member, a rotor assembly rotatably supported with- A in said shell member with its axis offset from but parallel portionuofsaid crescent shaped space, said die member including at leastone tapered diey inrwhichthe smaller cross-sectionall portion faces outwardlymeans for introducing hay or the like for compaction, ,and means for driving said rotor to cause theV said rotorkvane tomove said hay along said taperedcrescent shaped space, V.and through the said die to ,form compacted hay pellets.

2. A hay pelletizing vmachine kas defined in claim 1,

to the shell memberaxis, a rotor vane slidably supported withiny a radially disposedA slot extending entirely through said rotor, said vane dimensioned to ride along an inside f surface -of--the shell member, the said rotor and shell member together defining atapered crescent shaped space, at least one die member secured in Van aperture inl the shellat a minimumycross-sectional-area location with respect to said crescent shaped space, said aperture extending through the shell and being positioned at an apicall portion of said crescent shaped space, said die member including at least one tapereddie in which-the smaller crosssectional portion facesoutwardly, means for introducing hay or the like for compaction, land means for periodically closing said die to cause longitudinal compaction of the hay to form pellets. y

8. In a hay pelletizing machine, a generally tubular shell membena Arotor assembly rotatably supported within said shell member with its axis offset from but parallel to the shell member axis, a rotor vane slidably` supported within a radially disposed slot extendingentirely through said rotor,said vane dimensioned to ride along-an inside surface of the shell member, Vthe Vsaid rotor and shell Y member together dening a tapered crescent shaped space, .at least one die member secured in an aperture' in the o shellata minimum cross-sectional area location with including a plurality of dies, and a ,partinglmife between the dies for directing the partially compactedrhay in the form of` separated streams, one for each die.

3. A hay pelletizing machine asl defined in `claim `l,

including a plurality of dies, and a parting knife lbetween the dies for directingthe partially compacted .hayin the.

form of separated streams, one foreach die, and in which said rotor and rotor vane are slotted to clear the knives and permit close engagement between the `rotor assembly and the openings to said dies.

4. A hay pelletizing machine asf defined in claim l, including a` plurality of narrow tapered 4and generally crescent shapedridges within the shell member on which the said rotor vane rides to -bias the, said rotor vane aty its 4opposite edge to bias said edge toward said die.

Vrespect to said crescent shaped space, ysaid aperture extending through the shell and being positioned atan apical portion of -said crescent shaped space, said die member including at least one tapered die in which the smaller crossfsectional .portion faces outwardly, means for introducing hay or the like for compaction, and means for alternately closing said die to cause longitudinal compaction of the hay and cutting the compactedhay intopellets of substantiallyy standard `size and shape after the so compacted hay has been moved through the die.

9. In a hay pelletizing machine, a shell member having .a side opening'and at least one opening near a top por- 5. A hay pelletizing-machine as, defined in claim 1, Y

wherein said means lfor introducing hay or the like in-y cludes a hopperrsecured to the said shell member, said shell memberVv having an opening substantially coextensive with a bottom opening -in the hopper, Vwhereby cut, hay or the like introduced into the hopper is fed continuously into said crescent shaped space.

6. In a hay pelletizing; machine, a generally tubular,

shell member, afrotor assembly rotatably supported with.

in said shell member with itsaxis offset from but parallel to the shell member axis, a rotor vane slidably, supported: within a radially disposed slot extending entirely through said rotor,said vane dimensioned to ride along anV inside surface of the shell member, the said rotor and shell membertogether defining a tapered. crescent shaped space, at least one die member secured in an aperture in the shell ata minimum.cross-sectional area location with re tion thereof, a rotor Vmember within the Vshell member having its axis displaced from but parallely with the axis of the shell member, said shell member and rotor member thereby defining a crescent, shaped space between them, hopper means carried by the shell member over said top opening to continuouslyrfeed chopped hay or the like tosaid crescentshapedspace, at least one rotor Y vane carried bythelrotor member having an outside edge biased'towardthe inside surface of the shell membersothat when the rotor member is rotated within lthe shell said rotor vane will advance-the said hay or the like along said crescent shapedspaceand towards said side opening in the` shell member yat a position where the said crescent shaped space occupies its smallest dimension, and

at least one tapered die supportedA in said side openingV to further compact `the hay or the likeas it is forced through the die by movement of said rotor vane.

l0. A hay pelletizing machine -as defined in'claim 9,

Vwherein said rotor vane comprises a'single plate slidably extending entirely through the axis of the rotor 4to define a pair of vane members apart.

1l. A hay pelletizing machine as defined inclaim 9, wherein said rotor vane comprises asingle plate slidably extending entirely through the axis of the rotor to define a pair of vane members 180 apart, and wherein said shell member has aV diameter approximately fifty` percent E greater than that of the rotor leaving a crescent shaped space whose maximum cross-section is approximately equal to the radius of the rotor.

12. A hay pelletizing machine as defined in claim 9, including a plurality of dies aligned with said side opening in the shell member, and a parting knife between adjoining dies.

13. In a hay pelletizing machine, a shell member having a side opening and at least one opening near a top portion thereof, a rotor member within the shell member having its axis displaced from but parallel with the axis of the shell member, said shell member and rotor member thereby defining a crescent shaped space between them, hopper means carried by the shell member over said top opening to continuously feed chopped hay or the like to said crescent shaped space, at least one rotor vane carried by the rotor member having an outside edge biased toward the inside surface of the shell member so that when the rotor member is rotated within the shell said rotor vane will advance the said hay or the like along said crescent shaped space and towards said side opening in the shell member at a position where the said crescent shaped space occupies its smallest dimension, and means for compacting said hay longitudinally of its direction of movement by said vane.

14. In a hay pelletizing machine, a shell member having a side opening and at least one opening near a top portion thereof, a rotor member within the shell member having its axis displaced from but parallel with the axis of the shell member, said shell member and rotor member thereby defining a crescent shaped space between them, hopper means carried by the shell member over said top opening to continuously feed chopped hay or the like to said crescent shaped space, at least one rotor vane carried by the rotor member having an outside edge biased toward the inside surface of the shell member so that when the rotor member is rotated within the shell said rotor vane will advance the said hay or the like along said crescent shaped space and towards said side opening in the shell member at a position where the said crescent shaped space occupies its smallest dimension to compact said hay, and means for forming the compacted hay into uniform size substantially rectangular pellets.

15. In a hay pelletizing machine, a shell member having a side opening and at least one opening near a top portion thereof, a rotor member within the shell member having its axis displaced from but parallel with the axis of the shell member, said shell member and rotor member thereby defining a crescent shaped space between them, hopper means carried by the shell member over said top opening to continuously feed chopped hay or the like to said crescent shaped space, at least one rotor vane carried by the rotor member having an outside edge biased toward the inside surface of the shell member so that when the rotor member is rotated within the shell said rotor vane will advance the said hay or the like along said crescent shaped space and towards said side opening in the shell member at a position where the said crescent shaped space occupies its smallest dimension, means for compacting the hay longitudinally of its direction of movement by said vane, and means for cutting the compacted hay to produce uniform size pellets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 13,042 Goldschmidt Nov. 16, 1909 v649,413 Luzzatto May 8, 1900 2,923,230 Bornzin Feb. 2, 1960 2,947,241 Guenther Aug. 2, 1960 3,006,272 Brady Oct. 31, 1961 3,009,413 Alexander et al Nov. 21, 1961 

1. IN A HAY PELLETIZING MACHINE, A GENERALLY TUBULAR SHELL MEMBER, A ROTOR ASSEMBLY ROTATABLY SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID SHELL MEMBER WITH ITS AXIS OFFSET FROM BUT PARALLEL TO THE SHELL MEMBER AXIS, A ROTOR VANE SLIDABLY SUPPORTED WITHIN A RADIALLY DISPOSED SLOT EXTENDING ENTIRELY THROUGH SAID ROTOR, SAID VANE DIMENSIONED TO RIDE ALONG AN INSIDE SURFACE OF THE SHELL MEMBER, THE SAID ROTOR AND SHELL MEMBER TOGETHER DEFINING A TAPERED CRESCENT SHAPED SPACE, AT LEAST ONE DIE MEMBER SECURED IN AN APERTURE IN THE SHELL AT A MINIMUM CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA LOCATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID CRESCENT SHAPED SPACE, SAID APERTURE EXTENDING THROUGH THE SHELL AND BEING POSITIONED AT AN APICAL PORTION OF SAID CRESCENT SHAPED SPACE, SAID DIE MEMBER INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE TAPERED DIE IN WHICH THE SMALLER CROSSS-SECTIONAL PORTION FACES OUTWARDLY, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING HAY OR THE LIKE FOR COMPACTION, AND MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID ROTOR TO CAUSE THE SAID ROTOR VANE TO MOVE SAID HAY ALONG SAID TAPERED CRESCENT SHAPED SPACE, AND THROUGH THE SAID DIE TO FORM COMPACTED HAY PELLETS. 